The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-10

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seat on the extreme end, facing the river.
There was no one about, not living being
in sight, except as looked Up the dock and
the line of street leading 20 it, which pre-
sented to my eye picture of long lines of
I gas lamps fiaring in the wind, and groups
Of people hurrying to and fro under the
shelter of umbrellas. / turned to the river
which splashed against the piers at my
feet. How cold and forbidding it looked,
and how the wind noaned in the rigging of
the vessels lying along the piers and drove
| the rain and spray before it. The black
sky seemed to press down above the masts
Of the vessels, and the lights that cleaned
| across the waters from the opposite shore
OF the broad river did little more than make
the darkness visible. A miserable cur,
tied to the mast of a small schooner living
out in the stream, whined piteously to be
| taken into the cabin by his master, but
without avail
Gearing not for the weather, l sat heed
less of the passing hours. My mind was
again busy, going over the incidents of my
life, 50 soon, as thought, to have an end
ing.
Suddenly hand was laid on my shout
der, and a voice, gruff but kindly, asked
with rich Irish brogue: What would We be
afther dOin' here to-night.' / looked up 1t
was police officer. My tongue failed me-
l had no answer to give him. What he sus-
pccted don't know, but he kept firm hold
of nv arm as if he knew what my purpos e
had been and said: Come now, think we
had betther be moVin' along Mechani-
cally, | Obeyed him, and rising, walked
with him up the dock to the street. Here
he released my arm, but continued along
with me some distance, to what l suppose
was the end of his beat and then in kindly
tone, directed me: Now be off wild We and
don't come back here again
''Once more | started on an aimless wan
dering through the deserted streets, but the
happenings after this, for an hour or more,
are blank to me, with the exception of one
scene, which is indelibly impressed on my
mind. Somewhere, during the night, /
came across deep excavation, a sewer
that was in course of construction in the
city. 1t must have been about midnight,
for the men who were engaged upon it had
for the time dropped their work TO eat their
luncheon. l stood on the brink and looked
down into its depths, and watched them as
they sat on the planking amid dirt and
slime and all the noxious odors arising from
the sewer. Something of the fierceness of
gazed, and could with difficulty restrain
myself from climbing down and snatching
some of the food. Perhaps it was my weak
ness that deferred me. l stood there and
watched until the men finished and re-
sumed their labors, and again l sought my
lodgings.
"A new mode of exit from existence had
suggested itself to me, and l was in fever
Sb q tn INIT int
as l re- he'd my room l lit the gas. and
taking pieces of newspapers carefully
stuffed all the keyholes and other crevices
through which air might enter the ROOM
There was a large chandelier in the center
of the room and one branch light near the
bureau in the corner. There were six jets
in the chandelier, and at all these, as well
as at the branch, | turned the gas on full.
Then 1 threw myself on the bed and waited.
Rapidly q feeling of drowsiness came
over me, and then all at once was seized
with terrible sense of loneliness and de-
spair. Unable to restrain myself, l fell
sobbing so violently as to shake the couch
on which l lay. Then came heavy sense
Of suffOcation-then Inconsistencies.
Il awoke at last. 1t was broad daylight
and a ray of bright winter sunshine
streamed into the room and across my pill
low. Where was 1! That was my first
thought as | aroused myself Not dead,
that was certain. l struggled to my feet
There were the gas jets still turned on.
struck match and applied it to one jet.
The flame did not catch. In moment
saw it all My penurious landady had land
my guess was af;erward confirmed by her |
own lips) turned the gas off at the meter |
after she knew that all her dodgers were in !
for the night, and had saved my life
Saved my life. How the thought struck |
home to NE. Twice saved from self-de- |
in one night. felt stifled in the |
room and tore the windows open wide, and |
as the bracing atmosphere of out of doors |
poured into the room l threw myself into 6 |
chair by the window and leaned my head |
on my trembling hands and burst into tears |
of thankfulness.
How the bright rays of the sun dispelled |
all the foul humorS that had gathered and |
about my heart. l fastened to
leave the room, and tottering rather than |
walking, passed down the stairs and into |
the street.
Reaching the center of the city, the first |
person l met was a fellow Bohemian, who /
greeted me with: old fellow, you're just
the man was looking for. I'm in luck,
and have a scheme on hand. Let US go over
here to Charhe's and have bottle of wine
md we will talk it over
Il did not refuse. Indeed, refusal
would not have changed his purpose, and
anyhow we were half way to the restaurant
before he had finished his salutation. There
? pint of champagne was called for and dis
posed of and meantime he had ordered
breakfast He was one of the reckless
III
fellow. but he was one of the brightest
writer's l have ever met, yet one of the
most uncertain of men. He was in funds
Is he said, and he ordered tasteful break
last. left the ordering to him, and never
mentioned my experiences of the night be-
lore, or of the several days preceding.
LAS we ate he preached to me the scheme
hat he was so full Of 1t was for a new
PAPER that some men with money were
willing to entrust to his management, and
le wanted me to do some special work upon
t, for which he knew hal an aptitude, and
meanwhile to assist him in getting the
,Iant, etc. His friends had given him carte
blanche, as 10 salaries and other expenses,
md. as he said in order to secure my serv-
ces, he placed hun lred dollars in my
lands as an advance of salary.
Here was way out of my difficulties as
Unexpected as was the termination OF my
asst nights adventures l took the money;
We went 10 work and for awhile the paper
vas q success; then tired of it and went
Vest, and after some years in the harness
here took to politics. and here am in Con-
.ress. Since that morning l have never
.nown the want of a dollar
THE moral of it all?'' George asks.
''Wen, expected that question. The
Moral of it is that no one should accuse a
uicide of cowardice. Rather let that chart
able verdict which, in the days when super
titinn held SWAY was so nften the means